NCPA Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship Recipients

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Oct. 19, 2025) - During the National Community Pharmacists Association's Annual Convention, Oct. 18-21 in New Orleans, La., the NCPA Foundation announced the recipients of this year's NCPA Foundation scholarships. The NCPA Foundation proudly awards scholarships each year to college students pursuing community pharmacy ownership, recognizing those with demonstrated leadership qualities, academic achievement and an interest in independent community pharmacy. Scholarship awardees receive funds to be put toward their school tuition, complimentary registration to this year's NCPA Annual Convention, and a travel stipend.

For the first time, the NCPA Foundation awarded four Partners in Pharmacy need-based scholarships providing $10,000 to pharmacy students who demonstrate a strong commitment to independent community pharmacy and significant financial need. This additional investment honors the original Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship founders' intentions to support those students most in need.

"Our hope is that students who may otherwise have more difficulty pursuing independent community pharmacy will have their barriers lessened with this support," said Jerry Shapiro, president of the NCPA Foundation. "The cost of pharmacy education continues to rise annually, and we don't want to see students discouraged from pursuing pharmacy ownership due to the increased cost they carry, even before they graduate."

Congratulations to the following NCPA student members receiving a 2025 NCPA Foundation scholarship:

J.C. and Rheba Cobb Memorial Scholarship in Government Affairs
Colby Cormell, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Neil Pruitt Sr. Memorial Scholarship for Entrepreneurism
Ashleigh Ewens, Mercer University

William B. Simmons Memorial Scholarship in Pharmacy Management
Hannah Grace Matthewson, University of Georgia

Presidential Scholarship, sponsored by McKesson RxOwnership
Tiffany Chao, Rutgers University
Ty Davenport, University of Oklahoma
Emily Fisher, University of South Carolina
Rachel Helbling, University of Texas at Austin
Cindy Lu, University of Pittsburgh
Amber Martin, University of Montana
Evelyn McHaney, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Oluwateti Omilana, Howard University
Ellie Twedt, University of Iowa

Partners in Pharmacy Scholarship
Kara DiNardo, West Virginia University
Armin Dogic, Drake University
Mackenzie Gunn, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Mark Hanin, University of Southern California
Hannah Lerma, University of Texas at Austin
Madison Shreffler, North Dakota State University
Laney Skipper, Auburn University
Andrea Tucker, Auburn University

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The NCPA Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1953 to honor the previous incarnation of NCPA, the National Association of Retail Druggists (NARD) Executive Secretary John W. Dargavel. Contributions to the foundation are tax-deductible as charitable donations to the extent permitted under federal tax law. The NCPA Foundation's mission is to improve community-based health care by advancing the sustainability, growth, and public understanding of independent community pharmacists-the most accessible health care providers. For more information, go to https://www.ncpafoundation.org.